“More importantly, the difference in fuel efficiency between a sedan and an SUV has contracted over the past 10 years,”

Lincoln sedans, including the Continental, will not be phased out.

By 2020, the company expects 90 percent of its Ford portfolio in North America to consist of trucks, utilities and commercial vehicles.

No US jobs will be lost as a result of the plan, Ford said.

In a separate announcement, the US automaker said it will add hybrid motors to its high-volume vehicles, such as the F-150 truck, Explorer and Escape SUVs, and the Mustang.

“We are committed to taking the appropriate actions to drive profitable growth and maximize the returns of our business over the long term,” said Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO.

“Where we can raise the returns of underperforming parts of our business by making them more fit, we will. If appropriate returns are not on the horizon, we will shift that capital to where we can play and win.”